US Accuses Governor of Sinaloa of Ties to Los Chapitos and Opens a Crisis with Mexico
The relationship between Mexico and the United States became strained again over the most sensitive point of their common agenda: drug trafficking. This time, the blow was not against a hidden capo in the mountains nor against a financial operator, but against Rubén Rocha Moya, governor of Sinaloa, the state that for decades has been synonymous with Mexico's most influential cartel.
TL;DR
- The U.S. Department of Justice has charged Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and nine other Mexican officials with alleged links to the Sinaloa Cartel.
- The charges include conspiracy to import narcotics and possession of military-grade weapons, with allegations of facilitating drug trafficking in exchange for political support and bribes.
- The indictment suggests a relationship between political power and organized crime, alleging the cartel supported Rocha Moya's rise to power in 2021.
- President Claudia Sheinbaum stated Mexico will not protect criminals but demanded clear evidence, suggesting the U.S. accusations might be politically motivated.
- Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed displeasure with the U.S. for publicly announcing the charges before formal extradition requests were handled confidentially.
- Rocha Moya denied the charges, calling them baseless and a political attack on Mexico's government.
- The case escalates tensions between the U.S. and Mexico, moving beyond anti-drug cooperation to questions of institutional trust and sovereignty.
- Mexico's Attorney General's Office will review the evidence provided by the U.S. to determine if legal action can be taken.